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'My parents won't lend me £10k but helped my brother': When families play financial favourites

So-called financial favouritism can cause jealousy and resentment long into adulthood. Here is how experts say you can avoid it

'My parents won't lend me £10k but helped my brother': When families play financial favourites

Some parents may show favouritism when it comes to financial support, which can lead to feelings of resentment among siblings. This can include giving a younger sibling more money, gifts or help, even when the parents can afford to assist the older sibling as well. For example, John, 47, claims his parents gave his brother a deposit to buy a house and covered his living expenses, while denying him the same support.

John feels the need to be self-reliant, while his brother struggled to make ends meet and was provided for more. This favouritism has left John feeling isolated and affecting his relationships, according to the report. Financial favouritism can also lead to legal disputes after a parent's death if the wishes of the deceased are unclear.

To avoid such issues, experts suggest open communication about expectations and the reasons behind decisions. Parents should be clear about their intentions, and addressing feelings can help reduce resentment. If disputes arise, mediation may be a more amicable solution than legal action.

Written by urgent.news from BBC News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.

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